Andrey Vlasov: The Soviet General Who Became a Nazi Collaborator

Andrey Vlasov, once a celebrated Red Army general who helped defend Moscow in 1941, later became one of the most notorious collaborators with Nazi Germany during the Second World War.Once celebrated as a hero of the Red Army, General Andrey Vlasov would become one of the most infamous traitors of the Second World War. A brilliant officer who helped defend Moscow from Hitler’s forces in 1941, Vlasov’s reputation rose rapidly. But by 1942, after his army was abandoned and encircled during a failed attempt to break the siege of Leningrad, everything changed. Captured by the Germans, Vlasov switched sides — not just as a prisoner but as a vocal collaborator with the Nazis. From his time at the Frunze Military Academy to his elite status under Stalin, Vlasov’s fall from grace shocked both allies and enemies. He went on to lead the Russian Liberation Army (ROA) — a force composed of Soviet prisoners of war and volunteers who turned against the Soviet Union. His propaganda campaign, including the infamous Smolensk Proclamation, aimed to convince Red Army soldiers to defect. Despite Hitler's initial resistance to arming the ROA, Heinrich Himmler eventually supported Vlasov’s cause, giving him command in 1944. But by 1945, Vlasov made a desperate gamble — aiding the Czech resistance during the Prague uprising, hoping to secure Western protection. His gamble failed. Arrested by Soviet forces, Vlasov faced a closed trial in Moscow in 1946. Alongside 11 of his closest collaborators, he was found guilty of treason. The executions were slow and brutal — a final message from Stalin’s regime. Vlasov's body was cremated and dumped in an unmarked grave. This is the haunting story of a man who rose from poverty to generalship — only to be remembered as a symbol of betrayal.This episode is part of the series High Ranking Fascist Collaborators [Military].Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv